The search committee charged with finding a new chancellor to lead the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture met Monday for the first time and outlined a plan to have a new leader in place by early summer.

The committee, chaired by UT Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek, is searching for a replacement for Joe DiPietro, who was selected as the UT system's president in October. DiPietro has emphasized finding his successor at the agriculture campus as one of his most immediate priorities.

The position is considered vital, not only academically but also because of the institute's intimate involvement in the state-backed switchgrass biofuels initiative. The institute also is considered the most visible and accessible UT enterprise, with an extension office in each of Tennessee's 95 counties.